Della Waghiyi

Anchorage resident Della Singigpaghmi Waghiyi, 81, died of natural causes on July 4, 2010, at Alaska Native Medical Center.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Turnagain United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dale Kelley officiating the service. Additional services to be announced in Savoonga. Pallbearers include Ernest Waghiyi, Brent Pham, Stacey Kunnuk, David Waghiyi, Glenn Kulukhon, Tyler Dann, Mattox Metcalf, Isaac Jackson, Tom Rouse. Honorary pallbearers include John Jr. and Fritz Waghiyi. She will be laid to rest at Savoonga Cemetery.

Della was born Nov. 28, 1928, at Ataaqa's Camp on St. Lawrence Island. Della lived in Alaska her whole life. She worked and taught Native culture and arts for the Anchorage School District and the Alaska Native Heritage Center as well as the Bering Strait School District, she was the author of "While I Have My Being" in 2001, co-author of "Mrs. Della Waghiyi's St. Lawrence Island Yupik Texts with Grammatical Analysis", and in 2007 she was ordained by Bishop Edward W. Paup as the first Native Alaskan elder at the United Methodist Conference.

Della has lived many places throughout Alaska including Savoonga, Nome, Nenana, Gambell and Anchorage. She is affiliated with Moravian Bible Seminary, Chukotka Native Christian Ministry and United Methodist Church. She has also been involved with Habitat for Humanity. Della's hobbies include sewing, Native dancing, cultural interaction and teachings with youth.

Her family wrote: "In 1997 Della prayed and had a calling to help Chukotkan relatives in the Russian Far East. Della and Rev. James Campbell made various trips to Lower 48 states in order to raise funds and share their passion and vision with others. Thousands of dollars were raised, and together they helped to administer the humanitarian Russian Far East Task Force. Della was actively dedicated to fulfilling this work for approximately 10 years."

Survivors include daughters, Marian Green, Loraine (Aundre) Turner, Vi Waghiyi and Tom Rouse; sons, Fritz (Sally) Waghiyi, John Jr. (Arlene) Waghiyi, and Ernest Waghiyi and Hilda Kiyuklook; grandchildren, Lisa (Akoni) Ka'anoi, Karlene Waghiyi and Ernest Soonagrook, Joni Waghiyi, Molly May Waghiyi, Karena Waghiyi, Isaiah Waghiyi, Aavlan John Dan Waghiyi, Shanna Waghiyi, Bethanie Waghiyi, Benjamin Waghiyi, Stacey Kunnuk, David Waghiyi, Kevin Waghiyi, Jonathan Waghiyi, Brent Lee Pham, Tonia Pham and Alika Rosa, Keaton Waghiyi, and John Kiyuklook; great grandchildren, Alazae' Waghiyi, Skyler Rodriguez, Ciara Diamond Waghiyi, Kia Waghiyi, Willie Ka'anoi, Melissa Ka'anoi, Damien Wela Rosa, Karalyn Kailani Rosa, Riley Iya, Tiana Waghiyi, Hailey Newhall; siblings, Janet Noongwook, Gertrude (Morris) Toolie, Sr., Angela (Jon) Larson, Vera (Bob) Metcalf, Mary Kingeekuk, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ataaqa and Aqaa, Napaghya and Aghnapiggaq; parents, Theodore (May) Kingeekuk; husband, John Waghiyi, Sr.; daughter, Veta Waghiyi; son Ernest Waghiyi; grandchildren, John Waghiyi III; siblings, Vera, Ronald, Kermit, Hogarth, and Joel Kingeekuk.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Turnagain United Methodist Church, 3300 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, 99517.

Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel. www.janssenfuneralhomes.com